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Public Health Importance
- In 2007, more than 9,000 infants were born with major structural or genetic birth defects in Florida. In the U.S., one in 33 babies is born with a birth defect affecting about 120,000 babies each year.
- Birth defects are the leading cause of death in children less than one year of age – causing one in every five deaths.
- Effects of birth defects can range from mild to severe and can result in debilitating illness, long-term disability or death.
- Defects of the heart are the most common kind of birth defect and cause most of the hospitalizations.
- During 2004, hospital costs in the U.S. for birth defects totaled $2.6 billion dollars and accounted for more than 139,000 hospitalizations.
- Causes of most birth defects are unknown.
- Floridians are very concerned about the possible association between birth defects and environmental contamination.
Birth Defects Monitoring Systems Are Vital
- For tracking and detecting trends in birth defects.
- For identifying when and where birth defects can possibly be prevented.
- For providing the basis for studies on the genetic and environmental causes of birth defects.
- For planning and evaluating the impact of efforts to prevent birth defects.
- For helping Florida’s families whose infants and children need appropriate medical, educational and social services.
The Good News
- State funding for the birth defects registry is critical for describing the public health impact of birth defects in Florida. Without this data, Florida would be unable to competitively compete for additional funds to enhance surveillance, intervention and prevention programs. Since 1999, state funding has allowed the department to successfully compete and receive more than $5,295,000 in additional funding to support enhanced efforts.
- Folic acid prevents most neural tube defects (NTDs), serious birth defects of the brain and spine, when taken by women prior to and early in pregnancy. The number of infants born with NTDs in Florida has dropped since education, fortification and supplementation activities began saving more than $28 million in health care costs in Florida.
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are one hundred percent preventable. Annual cost estimates for FASD in Florida, including special education and juvenile justice, are $493,567,966.
- Genetic counseling provides parents with information about their risks based on family history, age, ethnic or racial background.
- The Florida Folic Acid Coalition, a public-private partnership, is working to decrease the incidence of folic acid preventable birth defects. Partners have developed and disseminated nationally recognized health promotion and education materials to women and their health care providers.
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